in the uk, members of parliament are to debate a smoking ban for future generations in what would be a world—first. and dozens of prospective jurors in new york are dismissed amid impartiality concerns — as donald trump's hush money criminal trial gets under way. as we come on air, the olympic flame lighting ceremony is taking place in ancient olympia. with 100 days to go ancient olympia. with100 days to go before the paris 2024 games. hello. i'm nicky schiller. we wa nt we want to go live to olympia with the flame lighting ceremony is happening in olympia. the birthplace

of the ancient games. the gentleman speaking at the moment, the president of the olympic committee in greece, he is also a member of the international committee. you can see the ancient remains of the 2600 year old temple, where this is taking place. what will happen is the flame will be lit and then it will be handed over to the paris 2024 olympic team. the relay will stretch from the acropolis to the south pacific. as you can see, there are hundreds of people at the ceremony and it is the first time since the covid—19 pandemic when of course there were toned down events for the tokyo olympics, that spectators are able to attend the torch relay events and this flame

lighting ceremony. we are expecting that flame to be lit in the next ten to 15 minutes. we will come back to that as we see it. we will have full coverage of that line from olympia as the flame is lit to head towards the paris 2024 olympics, which, of course, start injuly of this year. we start this hour with the latest developments in the middle east. foreign minister israel katz has written to dozens of countries calling for sanctions to be imposed on iran's missile programme. prime minister rishi sunak is due to speak to his israeli counterpart, benjamin netanyahu, today, to urge restraint after iran's unprecedented missile and drone attack on israel on saturday night. mr sunak said he would discuss how to prevent a further escalation in hostilities. the israeli government says it's

launched a diplomatic offensive against iran, as it considers a military response. officials are insisting that they will retaliate over the massive barrage of missiles. benjamin netanyahu has called on the international community to "stand united" against iran. the white house has described iran's attack on israel over the weekend as a "spectacular and embarrassing failure". our chief international correspondent, lyse doucet is injerusalem, from where she brought us more on the latest developments. two days after the skies over israel were filled by iranian cruise and ballistic missiles, as well as suicide drones, israel is are making it absolutely clear that it will hit back. the question still is how and when will it retaliate? and what seems clear now is it will, at least it hopes, take many forms. this morning, israel's foreign minister, israel katz, has said he is now leading a political waragainst iran.

he has written to dozens of countries urging them to sanction iran's islamic revolutionary guard corps, the irgc, in order to isolate iran. and also, we have heard from the military officials as well. yesterday, the the israeli chief of staff, herzi halevi, visited the geneva team air base, which was struck by several iranian missiles. israel says it's suffered limited damage, but he took that occasion to say that israel will respond. the war cabinet has already met twice, and while it has not said anything officially, israeli media are reporting that despite the arguments inside the cabinet, they are agreed that israel must respond in some way. and it's taking these steps in the midst of growing calls from around the world, including from its staunchest allies in washington and london, that they must exercise restraint. that is the message to coming from iran. the iranian foreign minister,

amir—abdollahian, has met his chinese counterpart, wang yi, and said that he also that iran also did not want this crisis to escalate. he emphasized again that iran had acted in legitimate self—interest in responding to the attack on its consulate, its own soil. it says in the syrian capital, damascus, when what's believed to be an israeli strike destroyed its consular access and killed some of its top officials with the iranian revolutionary guard corps. so the world is waiting, worrying about a dangerous escalatory spiral. the world is waiting, worrying about a dangerous spiral. and a reminder we have a special live page up and running with the latest developments from the middle east with analysis from our team of experts on the bbc

news website or app. let's go back to greece and olympia where the flame lighting ceremony is taking place. translation: ~ , taking place. translation: , , , translation: we will be seeing these later on. translation: we will be seeing these later on- waiting _ translation: we will be seeing these later on. waiting for _ translation: we will be seeing these later on. waiting for us _ translation: we will be seeing these later on. waiting for us at _ translation: we will be seeing these later on. waiting for us at the - later on. waiting for us at the temple. we have the priestesses featuring the high priestess as well. the artistic director of the flame lighting ceremony, who will, in a few moments time... there she is. strike the drum that will

formally begin the torch lighting ceremony. my distinguished guests lead, of course, by the president. this is always a magical moment of the official olympic flame lighting ceremony. in ancient olympia, of course, the flame was lit throughout the duration of the games and that is the continuity that we are seeing in the modern era as well, once this flame is lit it will not be extinguished until the closing ceremony. studio: that is the scene live in olympia where the sacred flame for the paris 2024 olympics is to be lit

in, of course, the ancient birthplace of the games. they will then be the torch relay which will spread from the acropolis to the south pacific. as you can see, hundreds of dignitaries and spectators are there in south—west greece, where the modern day olympics were born and where the ceremony is held every two years for both the summer and the winter olympics. you can see there is the greek actress, mary mina. she, we think, is going to bring the olympic flame to life with a parabolic polished mirror before handing it to the first torchbearer. there is a parabolic mirror you can see in the middle of your shot, which we think is actually going to be used to help light the flame. it will then be passed to the first torchbearer, who is an olympic rowing champion. and

thenit is an olympic rowing champion. and then it will be handed on as it goes on the torch relay. the ceremony in olympia being conducted in the ruins of the 2600 year role temple. the greek president is there as is the international committee president, have we heard talking a little earlier. the torch itself harks back to the ancient olympics when a sacred flame burn throughout the games. the tradition was revived in 1936 for the berlin games. there will be an 11 day relay of the torch on greek soil. some 600 torchbearers will carry the flame over a distance of 5000 kilometres through 41 different municipalities and areas

of greece before it is then given over to the paris 2024 organisers. that will happen in april, april the 26th is when the actual flame gets handed over to paris. what we are seeing at the moment is this ceremony where we expect the polished parabolic mirror will be used that you can see in the shot to help light the flame. let's listen in.

if you have just joined if you havejustjoined us on bbc news, we are watching live from olympia in greece. the sacred flame lighting ceremony for the paris 2024 olympics. of course, it happens in olympia, which is the birthplace of the ancient games before the torch relay takes place from the acropolis to the south pacific. there, you can see the flame being walked in to the ancient 2600 year old temple in greece. the greek president, the international olympic committee president, amongst the dignitaries, as, of course, the officials from the paris 2024 games. the actual olympics will start on the 26th of

july in paris, 19 days of competition. of course, before that gets under way there is always the torch relay and it starts from greece, where that flame will make its move during an 11 day relay in greece itself. around 600 torchbearers will carry the flame over 5000 kilometres, through 41 municipalities before it is handed over to the paris 2024 organisers. that will have a special ceremony as well, at the sight of the first modern olympics in 1896, that will happen on april the 26th. across france they will be 10,000 torchbearers that will carry the flame across 64 different french territories. there will be 400 towns, dozens of attractions during

its 12,000 kilometre journey. towns, dozens of attractions during its 12,000 kilometrejourney. both through mainland france and the overseas french territories in the caribbean, indian ocean and pacific. there we see the flame being put down, ready for the ceremony for the torch to be lit in ancient olympia.

she speaks greek. studio: that is the greek actress, mary mina, who is the high priestess

he was now holding that olympic torch as she moves down to light from the flame, the first torch of the relay. applause there we have the olympic flame has been lit in olympia in greece ahead of the paris summer olympics. as i say, the greek actress mary mina now holding the olympic flame. she is the high priestess in the ceremony. and now lighting and that will burn. there are always back up flames whenever the torch relay happens, just in case the torch does go out. there is always a back—up flame that it can be relit from so that once

the flame is lit it will continue throughout the journey, that it will take first travelling through greece, before crossing the mediterranean to france. that will happen in may on a three masted ship. it will travel through france and its overseas territories before arriving in paris for the start of the games injuly. that ceremony is continuing in a lengthy and you can continue to watch that on bbc news website and app. we have a special live feed from the ceremony if you do want to continue watching that flame lighting ceremony from olympia. we are going to move on to other news. next to a developing story out of denmark. a fire has broken out in copenhagen�*s old stock exchange, one of the capital city's most famous and historic landmarks. there are no reports of injuries.

everyone inside was able to lead. some people are rushing to rescue some of the historic paintings. this was the scene live where you can see the smoke is still billowing out from the building. indeed, firefighters are still struggling to bring it under control. they say the fact it was made of metal, the fact a lot of that is copper is actually keeping the heat in. denmark's culture minister said 400 years of danish cultural heritage had gone up in flames. the old stock exchange was being renovated and had been shrouded in scaffolding and a protective plastic. it currently houses the danish chamber of commerce, his spokesman described the scenes as a terrible sight. the

whole of the area has been cordoned off. one witness said he saw 17 metre flames amid the smoke. let's just take a moment to show what the old stock exchange building looked like before the fire. this picture was taken five years ago, and it shows the twisting spire, which was put up in the 17th century — and which has now collapsed. the building, which is located next to the danish parliament, has stood on the site since the 1620s. let's speak to adrienne murray who's a journalist based in copenhagen. we can see the smoke right behind you billowing out of the building, what is the latest on the operation to try and bring that fire under control? figs to try and bring that fire under control? �* , , ., to try and bring that fire under control? ~ , i. , to try and bring that fire under control? ~ , , ., , ., control? as you can see the old stock exchange, _

control? as you can see the old stock exchange, it _ control? as you can see the old stock exchange, it is _ control? as you can see the old stock exchange, it is still - control? as you can see the old i stock exchange, it is still engulfed in flames. a lot of smoke rising from the top and fire crews are still working around the clock trying to put the fire out. we've just had a big raft of smoke blow this way, it is a very windy day. that is probably not helping. as you mentioned it was undergoing renovations at the time so it has been covered in plastic sheeting and metal scaffolding, which has made it a more difficult task for the firefighters. we are right in the very centre of copenhagen, literally within100 is of the danish public building, just across the square. it is an iconic building right in the heart of the city. it usually houses the danish chamber of commerce and we understand all the people that were inside the building, they managed to evacuate. you will have seen those pictures of people also carrying artworks with them, trying

to rescue some of their cultural heritage. there are no reports of injuries, according to the police but the finance ministry, just next door, that was also evacuated this morning. but there are a dozen fire engines here in the area is cordoned off. there are military and police presence as everyone continues to work round the clock to try and put the fire out. do work round the clock to try and put the fire out-— the fire out. do we have any idea et how the fire out. do we have any idea yet how the _ the fire out. do we have any idea yet how the fire _ the fire out. do we have any idea yet how the fire started? - the fire out. do we have any idea yet how the fire started? that. the fire out. do we have any idea yet how the fire started? that is| yet how the fire started? that is not clear. _ yet how the fire started? that is not clear, obviously _ yet how the fire started? that is not clear, obviously they - yet how the fire started? that is not clear, obviously they are - yet how the fire started? that is| not clear, obviously they are still trying to put it out. it looks like the building will be absolutely gutted, sadly. they were renovations taking place, but the building wasn't empty, there were people working inside. it is not clear how that will have begun. you working inside. it is not clear how that will have begun.— that will have begun. you have mentioned _ that will have begun. you have mentioned this, _ that will have begun. you have mentioned this, it _ that will have begun. you have mentioned this, it is _ that will have begun. you have mentioned this, it is an - that will have begun. you have| mentioned this, it is an historic building in the centre, dating back to 1625? �* , building in the centre, dating back t01625? ~ y , building in the centre, dating back t01625? ~ , ,., ., to 1625? absolutely, it is one of those postcard _ to 1625? absolutely, it is one of those postcard images - to 1625? absolutely, it is one of those postcard images of - to 1625? absolutely, it is one of - those postcard images of copenhagen.

the dragons and their tails wrapped around the peak of it. we are right in the heart of copenhagen. it is where parliament is literally a few metres in front of me. it is an iconic building, 400 years of heritage right now that has been devastated by the flames. there is a lot of shock and disbelief because it is such an historic building. as it is such an historic building. as it has already been said, it is compared now as copenhagen's notre dame. i compared now as copenhagen's notre dame. ., , compared now as copenhagen's notre dame. . , . ., ., dame. i have seen the director of the chamber— dame. i have seen the director of the chamber of _ dame. i have seen the director of the chamber of commerce - dame. i have seen the director of the chamber of commerce can - dame. i have seen the director of - the chamber of commerce can actually carrying out one of the paintings. we saw the public that were passing trying to get those priceless paintings out?— trying to get those priceless aintinas out? . �*, , .,, paintings out? that's right, people were inside — paintings out? that's right, people were inside the _ paintings out? that's right, people were inside the building _ paintings out? that's right, people were inside the building so - paintings out? that's right, people were inside the building so they i were inside the building so they have been trying to remove what they could as they were told to evacuate. it is something that was built in the 1600s, it is something that was built in the 16005, 1625,

it is something that was built in the 1600s, 1625, king christian, the peak of denmark's history, when it was a major trading centre. denmark had a lot of power at the time, it was an important centre of commerce. you can hear the fire engine starting again there. the firefighters _ starting again there. the firefighters are - starting again there. the firefighters are still i starting again there. the firefighters are still at i starting again there. the firefighters are still at the scene and i assume there are concerns this fire could spread to the other buildings in the area? it doesn't ad'oin buildings in the area? it doesn't adjoin directly — buildings in the area? it doesn't adjoin directly to _ buildings in the area? it doesn't adjoin directly to the _ buildings in the area? it doesn't adjoin directly to the buildings. | adjoin directly to the buildings. there is a huge force, cranes from the fire trucks i can see and continuous hoses with water still trying to fight the flames. obviously, that work continues and it will be some hours, i would imagine before they managed to put it out. i imagine before they managed to put it out. ., , , imagine before they managed to put it out. . , , ., imagine before they managed to put it out. . ,, ., ., ., it out. i assume the whole area, i can see the _ it out. i assume the whole area, i can see the cordons, _

it out. i assume the whole area, i can see the cordons, the - it out. i assume the whole area, i can see the cordons, the whole . it out. i assume the whole area, i i can see the cordons, the whole area cordoned off from the public? exactly, this is the very centre of copenhagen and literally opposite parliament. within 100 is of the danish parliament building. the whole area is cordoned off, a lot of police on both sides of the parliament building. a few small crowds, obviously a lot of media but people watching on in utter disbelief. ., ~ people watching on in utter disbelief. ., ,, , ., people watching on in utter disbelief.— people watching on in utter disbelief. ., ~' , ., , . disbelief. thank you very much indeed for _ disbelief. thank you very much indeed for the _ disbelief. thank you very much indeed for the latest _ disbelief. thank you very much indeed for the latest on - disbelief. thank you very much indeed for the latest on that i disbelief. thank you very much l indeed for the latest on that fire indeed for the latest on that fire in the centre of the city. i want to take it back to olympia where the olympic flame has been lit. the handover is taking place, huge ceremony ahead of the paris 2024 olympics, which get under way in july, the opening ceremony on the 26th ofjuly. as we have seen, the olympic flame in the last half an hour has been lit in the ceremony in

greece's ancient olympia. it kicks off the international torch relay which will end at the paris games. it will first travel around 3000 miles across greece before crossing the mediterranean to france and that will happen in may on a three masted ship. they will then travel through france and its overseas territories before it arrives in paris for the start of the games injuly. but the olympic flame has been lit in greece's ancient olympia. stay with us here on bbc news. hello, on the hole today is will not be as violent as yesterday. yesterday brought some really intense downpours, thunderstorms and some very squally in places, damaging winds. today is breezy but not as windy. there will still be

showers but their showers will not be as violent. the wind is coming from the north so it will remain quite chilly. we have a frontal system gracing the east coast, cloud and showery rain. otherwise it is sunshine and showers in the north to north westerly flow and high—pressure waiting in the wings and that will be more dominant as the week wears on. through the rest of the day, sunny spells, scattered showers and some of them will be heavy with hail and eastern parts of england will see thunder. wintry showers over high ground in scotland. it will be quite windy and it is going to feel rather chilly for the time of year. eight to 13 or 14 degrees which is below the norm in many locations. this evening and tonight, many showers will fade but some will keep going in the north of scotland where it will stay windy. but, underneath clear skies and temperatures will drop down to around freezing, below freezing for around freezing, below freezing for a few spots in the north of the uk.

there could be a touch of frost for some of us to start tomorrow morning. but tomorrow should bring some good spells of sunshine for many. a frontal system will bring cloud and rain across northern ireland, grazing into western parts of scotland and the rain pushing down across wales and into the south—west of england later in the day. temperatures generally between nine and 12 celsius. for thursday, we will see another frontal system pushing across the north of the country, cloud and rain especially for scotland. a brisk wind here. further south, for scotland. a brisk wind here. furthersouth, more for scotland. a brisk wind here. further south, more in the weight of dry weather but a change in the wind direction might make it feel less chilly, ten to 14 degrees. as we head to the weekend, the frontal system clears out of the way and high pressure begins to make its move. it pushes eastwards and will become centred quite close to the uk so the winds will ease a little, more in the way of dry weather. perhaps the odd shower and there's temperatures may creep up a little,

14 to 17 degrees by sunday.

this is bbc news, the headlines. a potential world first smoking ban for future generations is to be debated by mps in the uk.

the inquiry into the post office scandal continues today with evidence expected from two former executives. and unemployment rises to its highest level in six months as the uk jobs market stalls. first, let's return to olympia, where the olympic flame has just been lit, you can see it being carried, this is all of course of the head of the 2024 paris olympics, which start injuly. that flame is going to be handed over as part of the ceremony, and as part of the torch relay, which will officially begin today. it will start in greece itself. so, the torch will go around 3000 miles around greece to a number

of different locations